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THE 

EARLY FRIENDS 

{OR QUAKERS) 

IN MARYLAND, 

Sead at the meeting 

OF THE 

Qth March, 1862, 
BY J. SAURIN NORRIS. 




^^ PRINTED FOR THE MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 

BY JOUN D. TOY. 




EARLY FRIENDS 

[OR QUAKERS) 
I N M A R Y L A N D , 



READ AT THE MEETING 

OF THE 



il^flikBl |list0ft«I f 0cktii, 



Qth March, 1862, 
BY J. SAURIN NORRIS. 




PRINTED FOR THE MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY 
BY JOHN D. TOT. 






♦» ? : V,^ A AJ^ ^ .-- > 



J 






THE EARLY FRIENDS, (OR QUAKERS) 
IN MARYLAND. 



The rise and progress of the Society of Friends, or 
Quakers, in the province of Maryland, constitutes an 
episode rather than a prominent integral part of its his- 
tory ; a thread in the woof distinct and separate from the 
whole fahric. By the inculcation of their peculiar tenets, 
differing so widely from those around them, they imme- 
diately isolated themselves in a great degree from the 
world. Even their speech and apparel, so peculiar to 
themselves, seemed as a harrier between them and the 
rest of mankind. Abstaining, almost totally, from par- 
ticipation in political matters, they were content to be 
governed, not to govern ; to yield obedience to the recog- 
nised laws, where their doctrines did not come in opposi- 
tion to them ; yet when so clashing, presenting a front of 
quiet, but downright and sturdy resistance; not by force 
of arms, but by the exhibition of an endurance that con- 
stitutes one of the most remarkable characteristics of the 
sect, and which, however open to animadversion, yet com- 
mands respect from its consistency with their principles, 
and the unyielding persistence with which it has been 
maintained. 

Suddenly springing into existence in England, under 
the lead of their founder George Fox, enunciating their 
1 



" testirnooiies^ ' with boldness and distinctness, which testi- 
monies or doctrines, in many respects attacked the very 
foundations of men's prejudices and principles, striking 
at the root of the established church polity and govern- 
ment, and in not a few points coming into direct collision 
with the laws of the kingdom, it is not wonderful that 
the opposition to them there, should have been bitter and 
powerful, and when their earliest travellers or emigrants 
came into the British Colonies of America, they brought 
the same tenets into lands where the fundamental laws, 
habits and feelings, were at least measurably in conso- 
nance with those of the mother country. 

The rise of the Society in England dates between the 
years 1644 and 1648, during which period their earliest 
meetings for worship were held, and immediately there- 
after the accession to their numbers was rapid and re- 
markable. In 1653 their first meetings for ^'■discipline,'' 
or ordering the affairs of the Church, were held in the 
north of England, and from this date may fairly be reckr 
oned their establishment as a distinct religious body.* 

"In 1655 many ministers went beyond sea, and in 1656 
some proselytes were made in the American provinces and 
other places,' "t Avrites George Fox ; and in July 1656 
Mary Fisher and Ann Austin, arrived at Boston, being 
the first Quakers known to have visited America. Sewell 
gives a graphic account of their reception and ill usage, 
and states that after being five weeks prisoners, they were 
sent back. I This Mary Fisher subsequently accomplished 
an extraordinary journey to Turkey, and actually visited 
the Sultan in his camp near Adrianople ; where she was 
kindly treated by him, and offered a guard to escort her 
to Constantinople, which she declined, and went thither 
in safety and unattended. 

*Janney's Fox, 482. f Fox's Journal, 1,222. | Sewell's Hist. 1, 203. 



The Colony of Virginia was visited about the same 
time as Massacliusetts, and in this case a woman was also 
the first missionary of the then new sect. One Elizabeth 
Harris certainly returned from Virginia in the fifth month 
(July) 1657, 0. S ; and it is believed she went to that 
province in 1656. A letter to her from Robert Clarkson, 
quoted by Bowden, is dated thus, ''From Seyvern the lUh 
of the eleventh month 1657," and underneath is written 
' ' This is in Virginia. " * It appears to have been generally 
conceded that the "Severn" named was at a small river of 
that name, an affluent, or arm of Mobjack Bay, lying on 
the Virginia shore, between the Rappahannock and York 
Rivers; and Janney states that a meeting was settled 
there. Whatever may have been the locality of this 
Severn, it is certain there are places named in the letter, 
which give some ground for the supposition that it might 
be the Maryland Severn. The writer states that " we 
have disposed of the most part of the books which were 
sent," — "at Herring Creek, Roade, River, South River, 
all about Severn, the Brand Neck and thereabout, the 
Seven Mountains and Kent." Most of these places are 
familiar as Maryland localities. He also mentions a cer- 
tain Henry Woolchurch, whose name appears in 1677, 
among the manuscript records of Friends in Maryland. 
The question as to where this Severn was, is interesting 
only in its bearing on the fact of the earliest date at which 
any Quaker was in Maryland. 

Towards the close of 1657, Josiah Cole and Thomas 
Thurston reached Virginia ; from whence they started on 
foot to Maryland, where being joined by Thomas Chap- 
man, they remained until the 2d of the sixth month, 
1658, 0. S. (which corresponds to the present eighth ,' 
month, or August,) when they proceeded on their pedes- ' 

*Bowden's Hist. 1, 340. 



6 

trian travels to Rhode Island and New England.* This 
remarkable journey was made through vast wildernesses 
on foot, — and among strange tribes of savages, and is an 
exemplification of the stout hearts of the men who en- 
countered its perils for the sake of disseminating their 
religious tenets. These three men, Cole, Thurston and 
Chapman, were undoubtedly among the earliest Quakers 
who visited Maryland. Thurston had previously been in 
Boston and was banished therefrom, and as in the mean 
time laws had been made to prevent all vessels from bring- 
ing Quakers into Massachusetts, he adopted this plan of 
again entering that Colony by a "back door," as it is 
quaintly termed in some proceedings of the General Court 
of Boston relating to his second visit, f 

In the early part of 1659, three other Friends visited 
Maryland — these were William Robinson, Christopher 
Holder and Robert Hodgson, and through their labors 
some proselytes were made, or in the words of the Quaker 
historians, ''considerable convincement took place. "| 

On the 23d July of this year, the Governor and Coun- 
cil of Maryland issued orders directing Justices of the 
Peace to seize any Quakers that might come into their 
districts, and to whip them from Constable to Constable 
until they should reach the bounds of the province. || 

Thomas Thurston, who has been formerly mentioned, 
having returned from New England, it is related of him, 
in a manuscript letter of W. Robinson, dated 1659, and 
quoted by Bowden, that "he was arrested and sentenced 
to an imprisonment of a year and day;" and Besse as- 
serts that four individuals were fined, £3 IS*, for evinc- 
ing their hospitality to him, while another was cruelly 
whipped "for not assisting the sheriff to apprehend him." 

»Bowdeu 1, 122, and Janney's Hist. 1, 432. J Bowden, 1, 36T. 

fSewell's Hist. 1, 334 to 336. || Council Rec. Lib. H. H. p. 29. 



From the accounts of the charges against Thurston, as 
contained in the Records of the Council of Maryhunl , and 
from his subsequent history, the inference is warranted 
that his conduct might have been of such aggressive 
character as to invite the interference of the civil authori- 
ties, — and it is not improbable that he was both the 
cause and the victim of the harsh order of the Gover- 
nor and Council before referred to.* Seven years after 

* The following extracts from the Records of the Governor and Council of 
Maryland, among the MSS. collections of the Maryland Historical Society, 
(Liber H, H. from 1656 to 1668) give an interesting view of the suspicion 
with which the Quakers were received, and of the proceedings relative to 
Thomas Thurston and Josiah Cole. These proceedings contain no reference 
to Thomas Chapman, who was the companion of Thurston and Cole; and 
hence it is inferred that he was more circumspect in his deportment towards 
the authorities. 

July 8, 1658. — "Upon information that Thomas Thurston and Josiah 
Cole had refused to subscribe the engagement by the Articles of 24 March 
last," a warrant was issued to the Sheriffs to bring them before the Council. 
The "engagement" referred to is contained in the articles surrendering the 
government of the Province to Cecilius, Lord Baltimore, on 24 March, 1 657 ; 
0. S. and was a promise to submit to his authority, instead of the oath of 
fidelity, and applied to the people then resident in the Province. 

July 16, 1658. — "Upon information that Thomas Thurston was prisoner, 
and Josiah Cole at Anne Arundel seducing the people, and dissuading the 
people from taking the engagement of 24th March last, — Ordered to the 
Sheriff of Anne Arundel to take the body of Josiah Cole, and him in safe 
custody keep without bail or mainprize." 

July 22d, 1658. — Among other proceedings the oath of Commissioners and 
Justices of the Peace was tendered and taken upon the Holy Evangelists by- 
all but Wm. Burges and Thomas Meares, "who pretended it was in no case 
lawful to swear, whose plea was by the Board disallowed," — and the said 
Burges and Meares were supplanted by Capt. Thos. Howell and Thos. Taylor. 

July 23d, 1658. — The Council "take into consideration the insolent beha- 
viour of some people called Quakers, who at the Court in contempt of an 
order then made and proclaimed, would presumptuously stand covered, and 
not only so, but also refused to subscribe the engagement, notwithstanding 
the Act of Assembly in that case provided, alledging that they were to be 
governed by God's law and not by man's law; and upon full debate finding 
that this refusal of the engagement was a breach of the Articles of the 24th 



8 

this period he gave great trouble to tlie Quakers them- 
selves by his extravagances, and the celebrated John 
Bur ny eat writes of him that "he was lost as to truth, 

March last, and that their priuciples tended to the destruction of Govern- 
ment; — Ordered, that all persons whatsoever that were residing within this 
Province, on the 24th March, 1657, should take and subscribe the said engage- 
ment by the 20th August next, or else depart the Province by the 25th of 
March following, upon paine due to rebels and traitors, if found within this 
Province after the said 25th March, and that a proclamation be forthwith 
drawn to this effect." 

July 25, 1658. — "According to the warrant bearing date 22d instant, 
Thomas Thurston was brought before the Governor, and the said Thurston 
being desirous to depart the Province, the Governor ordered the following 
warrant to be drawn : — Whereas, Thomas Thurston by himself and friends 
hath desired of me that he may passe on to Annarundel, from whence he 
hath engaged himself to depart this Province by Monday next, being the sec- 
ond day of August, until whose departing out of the Province, Josias Cole is 
to remaine as by order of Court provided. These are therefore in the Lord 
Proprietary's name to will and require you not to molest the said Thomas 
Thurston during the time limited for his stay, and so soone as he shall signify 
to you his intention presently to depart, that you sett at liberty the said Jo- 
sias Cole ; Provided, that if they or either of them, shall be found within 
this Province after the aforesaid second day of August, unless made unable to 
depart by sickness, they or either of them be apprehended and proceeded 
against according to lawe in theyr case provided." 

For twelve months from this period the Council does not appear to have 
been troubled with the Quakers, — but Thurston having returned from New 
England, again attracted attention, and accordingly on the 23d July, 1659, 
the following proceedings were had : 

" Whereas it is to (too) well knowne in this province that there have bin 
(been) several vagabonds and idle persons known by the name of Quakers 
that have presumed to come into this Province as well dissuading the people 
from complying with the military discipline in this time of danger, as also 
ffom giving testimony, or being Jurors in causes depending between party 
and party, or bearing any office in the province," the Justices of the Peace 
are directed to apprehend and cause them to be whipped from constable to 
constable until they should reach the bounds of the province. 

August 3, 1659. — Thomas Thurston was brought before the Governor and 
Council by Warrant from Col. Nathaniel Utie, — and pleaded that the order of 
23d July, related to the "time then to come," and was not applicable to him, 
he being at that time in the Province. This plea was allowed, but "the Board 



and became a vagabond and fugitive as to his spiritual 
condition, and little otherwise as to the outward."* 

In 1660 or 1661, Josiah Cole was banished from Mary- 
land, but on what charge is not related. f 

About this time Geo. Eofe, another minister visited 
the American Colonies, including Maryland, and on the 
loth of 9th month, 1661, he writes to Geo. Fox, from 
Barbadoes, that ''many settled meetings there are in 
Maryland and Virginia and New England.' '| In 1663, 
he paid a second visit to this Province, and was drowned 
during a storm in the Chesapeake Bay.|| 

Thus far the history of the early Quakers in Maryland 
is confined to the aspect they presented as travelling 
members of a new and strange religious sect. It is not 
improbable that many of the settlers became converts, — 
in fact it is so asserted by their journalists, — while the 
emigration of their members from England^ added to the 
number here, as it did in other provinces. As citizens of 
the colony, and of their position in it, we know but 
little, — owing, in some degree, doubtless, to their volun- 
tary abstinence from participation in political affairs, as 
well as to the doubtful position they were placed in by 
their doctrines in regard to oaths, tithes or church rates, 
bearing arms, &c. 

doth judge, that the said Thos. Thurston be forever banished this Province," 
on pain of being whipped with thirty-eight lashes, and sent out of the Pro- 
vince,— and any person presuming to receive, harbor or conceal him after the 
tenth day of the present month, should be fined 500 lbs. of tobacco. 

November 28, 1661. — "Then was called John Everitt to answer his con- 
tempt in running from his colors when prest to goe to the Susquehanna Fort — 
pleaded that he could not beare arms for conscience sake : — Ordered that the 
said Everitt be tryed at the next Provincial Court, and in the interim be com- 
mitted into the Sheriff's hands, and that the Sheriff impanel a Jury against 
that tyme, and in the meane tyme the said Everitt to be kept in chaynes and 
bake his own bread." 
«Bowden, 1, 3T2. f Bowden, 1, 3t0. X Bowden, 1, 347. !| Bowden, 1, 362. 



10 

As pioneers in the work of establishing in the wilder- 
ness a new religious sect, they gave to that object their 
earnest and persistent labors ; and amid the trials inci- 
dent to the settlement of a new country, — common to all 
who encountered its difficulties, — they laid broad and 
deep the foundations of their Society, — the effects of 
which remain indelibly impressed on the history of our 
State, jnsbYij of whose most respectable and prominent 
families find their American origin among the plain 
Friends, who on both shores of the Chesapeake, set up 
their meetings, and in their lives consistently practiced 
the doctrines which their ministers so fervently preached. 

Kilty, in his "Landholder's Assistant," instances an 
obligation from Francis Armstrong relative to the taking 
up of some land for the use of Peter Sharpe, which is 
dated the "nineteenth day of the third month called May," 
with said Sharpe' s acknowledgment at the foot thereof, and 
which bears date the "twentieth of the fifth month 1665." 
In a note he says, "the singularity observed in this con- 
tract of naming the months by their numbers, cannot 
well be accounted for, as no other instances of it have 
been perceived, and the people who now have that prac- 
tice were scarcely tolerated in Maryland. Strangers (at 
least) of that description being treated, wh^n found in 
the province, with indignities wliich I do not chuse to 
mention."* 

It is evident that Kilty was ignorant of the earlier 
existence of the Quakers in Maryland. The use of num- 
bers for naming the months being a peculiar custom of 
Friends, might be taken as conclusive proof that Arm- 
strong and Sharpe were of that sect, — but there are other 
evidences of the fact,— one of peculiar interest is given 
by Mr. Davis in his "Day Star," where he quotes the 

» Kilty's Lfindliolder's Assistant, 88. 



11 

will of Peter Sharpe (who was a physician) dated in 1672, 
giving "to Friends in tlie ministry, viz: Alice Grary, 
William Cole and Sarali Mash, if then in heing, — Wen- 
lock Christerson and his wife ; John Burnett and Daniel 
Gould, in money or goods, — forty shillings worth a piece; 
also for a perpetual standing, a horse, for the use of 
Friends in the ministry."* 

The instance given hy Kilty refers to the earliest period 
which I have met with, in which the Quakers appear as 
land owners. 

Wenlock Christerson, mentioned as one of the devisees 
in Dr. Sharpe's will, was one of those who figured prom- 
inently in Boston during the trials of the Quakers there. 
While the trial of William Leddra was progressing in 
that city, in March, 1661, this Christerson, who had 
himself been previously banished thence on pain of 
death, suddenly appeared in Court, as the friend and 
sympathizer of the prisoner, — braving all consequences 
to himself, that he might possibly aid his friend, and 
serve the cause he had so fearlessly and earnestly em- 
braced. He was again arrested, tried and sentenced to 
be hung, but after a few days he was, with twenty-seven 
others, released. f In 1664 he was whipped with ten 
lashes, in each of three towns in Massachusetts, and 
driven into the wilderness. | In 1674 he was a petitioner 
to the Assembly of Maryland, in regard to oaths and 
affirmations, — 1| and his name frequently occurs among 
those of the Friends in Maryland. The Half Year's 
Men's Meeting, held at John Pitts' on the Eastern Shore, 
in the 8th month, 1679, took some order relative to secur- 
ing Elizabeth Christerson for what legacies were given to 

* Diivis' Day Star, 78. JBowden's Hist. 214. 

tSewell's Hist. 1, 338. !| Ridgley's Annapolis. GO. 



12 

John Stacy by Wenlock Christerson^ "/le now being f^et 
free," (i. e. dead.)* 

In April, 1672, Greorge Fox arrived in Maryland, land- 
ing at the Patuxent, and just in time to reach a "General 
Meeting for all the Friends in the Province of Mary- 
land,"" which liad been appointed by John Burnyeat to 
be held at West Kiver, He describes it as "a very large 
meeting,"" "and held four days, to which, besides Friends 
came many other people, divers of whom were of consid- 
erable quality in the world's account. "f 

After the meeting for public worship, they held a meet- 
ing for Church discipline, — the first that appears to have 
been held for that purpose in Maryland. | 

This meeting at West Eiver is celebrated in the history 
of the Quakers in Maryland, as being the first general 
meeting of their members, and which has been succeeded 
by others known as "Half Year's Meetings,'" "Yearly 
Meetings," "Quarterly Meetings,'" &c. 

Immediately after this meeting Fox appears to have 
continued his labors by preaching his doctrines, and es- 
tablishing meetings for discipline, at various places in 
the province. He has left a very complete, interesting 
and curious record of his travels in Maryland, and other 
American colonies, — written with great plainness of dic- 
tion, and bearing evidences of his earnest devotedness to 
the cause he had espoused. 

In October, 1672, he attended the "General Meeting 
for all Maryland Friends,'" at "Treadhaven Creek, "|| at 
or near where now stands the town of Easton, Talbot 
County. This meeting held five days, — the first three 
for public worship ; and the other two for discipline, at 
which the men and women held separate meetings, as is 

« MSS. Records of Md. Friends. t Janney's Life of Fox, ?.28. 

t Fox's Journal, 123. j| Fox's .lournal, 131. 



13 

now their custom. Being held just six months after tlie 
first G-eneral Meeting at West River, — -and being thence 
for many years afterwards, semi-annually, held alter- 
nately at these two places, those meetings were some- 
times called "Half Year's Meetings." 

Fox remained in America until after the "General 
Meeting for the Province of Maryland," at West River, 
which commenced on the ITth of 3d month 1673, and 
lasted four days. 

The next day being the 21st, he set sail for England, 
so that the first and last meetings attended by this cele- 
brated man, in America, were held at the same place, at 
West River in Maryland. In describing this meeting he 
says, "divers of considerable account in the government, 
and many others were present, who were generally satis- 
fied, and many of them readied, for it was a wonderful 
glorious meeting.'"* 

A curious description of one of these General or Yearly 
Meetings is given by Samuel Bownas, an English Quaker, 
who travelled for the second time in Maryland, in 1727. 
"The Yearly Meeting now came on, which held four days, 
viz : three for worship, and one for business. Many people 
resort to it, and transact a deal of trade one with another, 
so that it is a kind of market or change where the cap- 
tains of ships and the planters meet and settle their af- 
fairs; and this draws abundance of people of the best 
rank to it."t 

This promiscuous gathering of people no doubt led to 
some abuses, and probably to the annoyance of the Friends, 
for in 1711 they advised an address to the Government 
"for ye prevention and suppressing the practice of bring- 
ing drink near our Meeting House in the time of our 
Yearly Meetings," and in 1725, an Act was passed to pre- 

* Fox's Journal, 142. f Life and Travels of Sauiuel Bownas, London. 1756. 



14 

vent the sale of liquors in booths within one mile of the 
Quaker Yearly Meeting- house in Talbot Countj^ or two 
miles of the Yearly Meeting house near West River in 
Anne Arundel County.* 

George Fox having establislied the meetings for disci- 
pline in Maryland, they appear to have been regularly 
kept subsequently. t The earliest, manuscript records of 
the General or Yearly Meetings, which are now extant, 
commence in 1677, and are regularly continued from that 
period. These Records are now in the possession of the 
Meeting which is held in Lombard Street, between How- 
ard and EutaAv Streets, and are kept in the meeting 
house there. They are in a remarkably good state of 
preservation, — are comprised in several volumes of irreg- 
ular size and binding ; and are written mostly in fair and 
legible characters, — but as the minutes are evidently the 
production of many different persons, the style is corres- 
pondingly diverse ; and in many of tlieni but little atten- 
tion is paid to orthography, while punctuation is utterly 
ignored. 

The first Record is thus dated, ^'Att our General Man's 
Meeting at West liiver in the year 1677," — the month is 
obliterated ; — and the first Minute refers to a debt due to 
the estate of William Lewis, deceased, by one of the 
members ''according to a judgment of a former Man's 
Meeting,'" — Avhich debt not being satisfied, a Committee, 
consisting of Wm. Southbee and Thos. Taylor, was de- 
puted to see to the matter, and give an answer at the 
next Man's Meeting. 

This early instance of the care of the Quakers to keep 
their membership clear of injustice, may be taken as a 

* Bacon's Laws, 1*725, chap. 6. 

t Bowdea gives a copy of an Epistle "from the Men's General Meeting at 
West River, in Maryland, the 6 'day of the fourth month, 16'74;' to the Men's 
Meeting of Friends in Bristol, England." 



15 

specimen of their subsequent action in such cases, and 
numerous Minutes are found of similar proceedings by 
their meetings. 

The second Record is dated ^'Att our half-yeares 31an's 
Meeting (some words obliterated) Treadhaven Creek the "^d 
day of ye 8th Month 1677." 

The first Minute is thus, "It was agreed upon by the 
Meeting that John Edmondson, Bryon O'Mealy and 
Ralph Fishbourn doe goe to Vincent Lowe and shew him 
Robert Ridgley's letter and treat with him about the 
report he spread abroad oiffriends that luere chosen Assem- 
bly Men," — shewing that thus early in the history of our 
State, the Quakers held some offices of consequence under 
the proprietary government. 

That the Society had an appreciation of tlie importance 
of keeping records of their Meetings, is shown by another 
minute at this Meeting, ordering "that John Hilling 
should be paid 4001bs. of tobacco for writing the concerns 
of ffriends on this side," — probably meaning on this side 
of the Bay. 

At the same Meeting it was "thought fitt and meete 
that a Stock should be gathered for the service of the 
truth," "and the supply of the poore amongst us," 
"every fi'riend being left to his freedom what to give," 
and the subscription list is given in full. The amount 
subscribed was 86501bs. of tobacco. Among the subscri- 
bers was Thomas Taylor, whose name appears among 
others, in a manuscript of the Monthly Meeting of Bris- 
tol, England, quoted by Bowden, and is styled "one of 
the Council and Speaker of the Assembly." 

The Records for the "General Man's Meeting at West 
River the ISth of 3d Month 1678" contain a Minute that 
a Committee of nine persons, — one from each local or 
"particular" Meeting, — should be appointed to "make 



16 

enquiry into tlie estate, condition and usage of orphans 
and their estates, and to give an accompt to every respec- 
tive half-year's Man's Meeting," ""so that they be in no 
wise abused nor their estates wasted, and that poor 
orphans may be provided for." 

These early Eecords show their solicitude for the i)Oor 
and helpless ; and so marked has been this characteristic 
of the Quakers, that it has passed into an adage, that "no 
Quaker is found begging, or in the Alms House." 

KSubsequently there was a standing committee appointed, 
which was termed a '■^Meeting for ividows and orphans,^' 
and held its sessions at least as often as the Greneral Meet- 
ings, to which it reported. Some of these Minutes are 
curious in the circumstances and cases reported as claim- 
ing attention. 

As a specimen, a minute of 1679 may be quoteil, which 
is as follows: "'The widow Ford hath referred herself to 
our Man's Meeting for advice and assistance in the matter 
relating to her outward estate," — and a special Com- 
mittee was appointed ' ' to examine how matters are with 
her." 

The custom of these primitive people was very marked 
in regard to their care of the temporal affairs of their 
members. Many instances occur where matters of a 
purely private and personal nature, relating to the estate, 
condition and character of individuals, are made the sub- 
ject of their meetings' consideration and action. In the 
records of their subordinate meetings, particularly, do 
these occur ; which circumstances would render a general 
or unrestricted exhibition of their manuscripts, manifestly 
improper, — and hence the specimens of their Minutes 
which are here selected, are such as can by no possibility 
injure or wound any, who may, by descent or otherwise, 
be connected with those persons named therein. 



17 

The subject of marriages, involving the delicate and 
important questions of the legitimacy of children and 
descent of estates, at a very early period engaged the 
most serious attention of the Quakers ; as according to 
the law of England, marriages " might be adjudged void 
wlien solemnized without license or publication of banns 
in the church of the parish." 

The opposition of the sect to all alliance or affinity with 
the established church, induced it in this matter to take 
a stand that was bold and difficult to be maintained ; and 
in no particular have they manifested a more distinct 
and determined position. 

In 1652, George Fox issued a paper advising Friends 
about to be married "that they might lay it before the 
faithful in time, before any thing was concluded, and 
afterwards publish it in the end of a meeting, or in a 
market, as they were moved thereto. And when all 
tilings were found clear, being free from all others, and 
their relations satisfied, they might appoint a meeting on 
purpose for the taking of each other in the presence of at 
least twelve faithful witnesses." * 

In 1661, a Quaker marriage was brought to the test of 
a legal tribunal in England, and the Judge, (Archer, of 
Nottingham Assize,) instructed the jury favorably to its 
validity, saying, that "there was a marriage in Paradise 
when Adam took Eve and Eve took Adam, and that it 
was the consent of the parties that made a marriage," 
The verdict of the jury established the validity of the 
marriage in question. t 

In no particular does the society appear to have exer- 
cised greater caution and care, than in that of their mar- 
riages ; requiring two or three applications to as many 
meetings, so as to ensure publicity of intentions, and to 

* Jaiiney's Hist. 2, 49. f Ibid. 2, 51. 



18 

guard against all things that might, in their quaint style, 
''he contrary to the order of truth," or bring discredit 
on their membership. 

In the old manuscript records of the Maryland Friends, 
numerous instances are found of their proposals of mar- 
riage, — one of which, in 1078, may be given as a curious 
specimen, viz: 

"Obadiah Judkins and Obedience Jenner, acquainted 
this meeting, and also the women's meeting, with their 
intentions of coming together as husband and wife, ac- 
cording to the order of truth ; now inasmuch as the 
young woman is but lately come forth of England, and 
Friends noe certaine knowledge of her, the advice of 
the men and women's meeting is that they forbeare, 
and proceed noe further till certificate be procured out of 
England from the meeting where she last belonged unto, 
of her being deere from others, and as to the manner of 
her life and conversation, that so the truth may be kept 
deere in all things ; both the partys being willing to sub- 
mit to the same, and also to live apart in the mean time.'' 

Among the earliest "testimonies" of the, Quakers, 
their objection to oaths is prominent; and as a conse- 
quence they encountered great difficulties in many par- 
ticulars. Their efforts were continuous to be relieved 
from the disabilities they encountered as witnesses, admin- 
istrators of estates, guardians of orphans, &c. 

In 1673, Wm. Penn addressed a letter to Friends in 
Maryland in which he says, "it fell to my lot to manage 
your concerns with the Attorney General of the Colony 
and the Lord Baltimore, about oaths,'" — and gave some 
advice in relation to the matter.* 

In May, 1674, a petition was presented from certain 
Quakers to the upper house of Assembly of Maryland, 

* Jannev's Life of Penn, lOG. 



19 

asking to be relieved from the necessity of taking oaths, 
and that they be allowed to make their "yea, yea, and 
nay, nay ; " if they break which that they suffer the same 
punishment as they do who break their oaths or swear 
falsely.* 

The petition was not acted on at this time. 

In 1688, Lord Baltimore was pleased to issue a procla- 
mation to dispense with oaths in testamentary cases; 
which was gratefully acknowledged in an address from 
the Friends' Quarterly Meeting at Herring Creek, on the 
7th of the 9th month, 1688.t 

In 1702, (chap. 1, sec. 21,) an act was passed which 
fully relieved the Quakers of this difficulty. 

Subsequent to this period, the favor of both the Home 
and Provincial Governments was manifested towards 
Friends, which they repaid with a grateful loyalty. 

Tradition relates that for many years it was custo- 
mary to reserve seats for the Provincial Governor and 
his suite on the raised benches or forms, called the 
"Preacher's Gallery," which they occupied at times dur- 
ing the sessions of the Yearly Meetings. 

The General or Yearly Meetings had from their com- 
mencement been in the habit of enquiring into the state 
of the society at large, and requiring reports from the 
subordinate meetings, touching various matters, both 
spiritual and temporal. These reports, as may be sup- 
posed, were of an irregular character ; each meeting re- 
porting on such subjects as happened to attract its atten- 
tion. A remedy for this was found by instituting a set 
of questions, which the lower meetings were required to 
answer, thus ensuring uniformity of subject, if not simi- 
larity of reply. These questions have been altered from 

* Ridgley's Annapolis, 62. f Besse quoted in Janney's Hist. 2, 364, 



20 

time to time, but the Friends of the present day may 
recognize in the following set of queries, the original and 
rude foundation on which has been reared the more 
polished structure of modern phrase. This list was 
adopted by the Yearly Meeting in 1*725, and is copied 
from the Manuscript Records. 

''1. Are all careful to keep meetings, both weekly, first 
days and monthly, comeing in due time, and bringing 
forth their families? 

"2. Are all careful to keep out of sleep and drowsiness 
in time of meeting? 

''3. Doe those that have children train them up in the 
nurture and fear of the Lord, restraining them from vice, 
wantoness, and keeping company with such as would 
teach them yain fatiom and corrupt ways of this world to 
the misspending of their precious time and substance? 

''4. Are all careful to keep their word and pay their 
just debts and contracts in due time? 

"5. Whether any differences among friends, are they 
speedily ended, otherwise refer themselves to two or more 
honest friends, and if they cannot end the same, then 
refer them to the Men's Meeting? 

''6. Doe none commence or defend any suit of law except 
such have the advice of the Men's Meeting; but those 
that defend may give their appearance or sue for a Bond 
on a just debt? 

"7. Are all careful to keep up their antient and christian 
testimony against tithes. Priest's wages, repairing of 
their houses, called churches, or any other ceremony of 
that nature? 

''8. Have all Friends been advised to make their wills 
and testaments, and have them well attested? 

"9. Is there no tattlers, tale-bearers, busy bodys med- 
ling themselves with other men's matters which they are 



21 

not concerned with, which tends to strife and discord 
among brethren? 

"10. Doe all keep to plainess of speech? 

"11. Doe all keep out of superfluity of meet, drink, and 
apparel, at all times? 

"12. Doe all keep out of y® abuse of smoaking and chew- 
ing tobacco att all times ; and doe none use it but such as 
can render a reason the good they receive by it and loss 
they sustain for want of it, and that such observe conve- 
nient time and place for it ? 

"13. Doe non practice any clandestine way of trade 
which is to the dishonour of truth, which the testimony 
of truth is already given forth against? 

"14. Is care taken and Friends advised that none too 
nearly (related) proceed in collateral marriages, and that 
none marry within the third degree of affinity and the 
fourth degree of c6nsanguinity according to former advice? 

"15. Whether there is any masters of trade that want 
apprentices or children of Friends to be put forth, that 
they apply themselves to the Monthly Meetings before 
they take those that are not Friends, or put forth their 
children to such? 

" 16. Whether have the children of the poor due educa- 
tion so as to fitt them for necessary employment? 

"17. Whether there is any fatherless or widows that 
want necessarys, yea or nay, and if any want are they 
supplied ? 

"18. Doe Friends every where behave themselves 
orderly both in their converse and commerce, so as to 
answer the witness of God with them with whom they are 
concerned?" 

The subject of using tobacco had been acted on in 1705, 
when an advice was issued against its immoderate use, 
and Friends were admonished in relation thereto. 



22 

Negro slavery existed in Maryland and other British 
colonies, at the time when the Quakers first settled in 
them; — and it does not appear that slave-holding was 
then considered by them, as inconsistent with their 
principles. Numerous instances may be adduced of the 
fact that they were slave-holders. 

Janney in his History of the Quakers quotes the will 
of one Alice Kennersly, of Maryland, who bequeathed 
"her negro woman Betty and her child to Dan. Cox in 
consideration that he should pay twenty shillings annu- 
ally for thirty years to the Meeting, for the paying of 
travelling Friends' ferriage in Dorchester County, or 
whatsoever other occasions Friends may see meet, " and 
the Meeting recognized the bequest by advising Dan. Cox 
to be present at the next Monthly Meeting to answer such 
questions as may be asked him concerning the premises. 

In 1671, George Fox issued an advice to Friends in 
Barbadoes "respecting their negroes" "to endeavour to 
train them up in the fear of God," "and after certain 
years of servitude they should make them free."* 

Whilst in Barbadoes he was assailed with a calumny 
tliat he "taught the negroes to rebel," which he declai-ed 
was "an abominable untruth," and "it is a thing we 
utterly abhor. " 

The earliest movement or the part of the Quakers in 
America, in a Meeting capacity, relating to slaves, was 
by some German Friends at Kreisheim, near Germantown, 
Penn., in 1688, when they addressed a paper to their 
Yearly Meeting "concerning the lawfulness and unlaw- 
fulness of buying or heeping negroes." No action was 
then taken on it by the Yearly Meeting, f 

In 1700, Wm. Penn having made provision for the 
liberation of the few slaves he held, brought the subject 

* Fox's Journal, 2, 134. tJiin^t^y's Fox, 46."^. 



23 

betbie a Monthly Meeting in Philadelphia, but the ex- 
tent of its action was merely to direct that the negroes 
and Indians should be encouraged to attend Friends 
Meetings. * 

From this time forward it is said that the subject of 
slavery continued to attract the notice of the Quakers in 
various parts of America ;^but no Minute upon the ques- 
tion appears in the Manuscript Records of Friends in 
Maryland until the 6th month, 1759, when upon a revi- 
sion of their queries, a new one was adopted as follows: 
'^Are Friends careful of importing or buying of negroes, 
and doe they use them ivell they are possessed of by inheri- 
tance or otherwise, endeavoring to trane them up in the 
principles of Christian religion ? ' ' 

In the 5th month 1760, the Records of the Yearly 
Meeting at West River, relates to ''some oneasiness" with 
some Friends respecting the words, ' 'buying of negroes," 
"agreed to last year," and the Meeting thinks, "Friends 
at present are not fully ripe in their judgments to carry 
the minute farther than against being concerned in the 
importing of negroes. " 

At the Meeting in the 10th month of the same year, at 
Treadhaveu, the minute relative to this subject is that 
"this Meeting concludes that Friends should not in any 
wise encourage the importation of negroes, by buying or 
selling them^ or other slaves. " 

In the 5th month 1762, the Meeting at West River 
declares: "It is their solid judgment that no member of 
our society shall be concerned in importing or buying of 
negroes, nor selling any without the consent and appro- 
bation of the Monthly Meeting they belong to. " 

The Manuscript Records teem with the subject of sla- 
very ; — nearly every year was it brought before the Meet- 

*Janney's Fox, 468. 



24 

ings, and it gradually grew from a concer;^ relating only 
to the importation of negroes, to the retention of them as 
slaves. Great caution is apparent in their Minutes upon 
the suhject, and as it encountered serious opposition by 
many of their members, it was not until 1777 that slave- 
holding was made a disownable offence.* In 1770 the 
Yearly Meeting of New England had arrived at the same 
point, and in 1776 the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting had 
also come to the same conclusion. In 1777 the North 
Carolina Yearly Meeting, (which embraced the Friends 
of South Carolina and Greorgia) contemporaneously acted 
in concert with their brethren in Maryland, f but it was 
not until 1784 that the Virginia Friends adopted the ex- 
treme measure of disownment for holding slaves. | 

It thus appears that nearly a century elapsed between 
the first introduction of the subject in the Society in 1688, 
to its final settlement in 1784: — Avhile the Maryland 
Friends consumed eighteen years in the discussion of the^ 
question, before arriving at the j)Osition they have since 
maintained in relation thereto. 

We have no means of ascertaining the pecuniary sacri- 
fices made by the Maryland Quakers, to their conscientious 
convictions on this momentous subject, but tradition re- 
lates that one family alone liberated 200 slaves. 

From the fact that a large number of Friends lived in 
the slave-holding counties of Anne Arundel, Prince 
George's and Montgomery, and others on the Eastern 
Shore, where the great mass of labor was performed by 
slaves, it is easy to believe that in the aggregate the sac- 
rifice was very great ; and perhaps has no parallel instance 
where such pecuniary loss was voluntarily incurred for 
conscience' sake. 

*MSS. Records of Md. Friends. 

f Pamphlet Report of N. Carolina Yearly Meeting on the subject of Slaverj'. 

J Jannej's Fox, 469. 



25 

The Greneral Meetings of the Society in Maryland con- 
tinued to be held at West River and Treadhaven, until 
the 4th of the 6th month, 1785, when, in accordance 
with a Minute of adjournment of the previous Yearly 
Meeting at Thirdhaven, as it was now called^ it was for 
the first time held at Baltimore Town. It had now 
become strictly an Annual or Yearly Meeting, and was 
held the next year, 1786, at Thirdhaven ; in 1787 again 
at Baltimore Town; — in 1788 at Thirdhaven; and in 
the 6th month, 1789, for the third time at Baltimore Town; 
and from that period has continued to be held in this city ; 
the autumn being chosen for the time, instead of early 
summer as heretofore. The present Meeting House at 
the corner of Aisquith and Fayette Streets, was built in 
1780, and the particular Meeting moved thereto in Jan- 
uary 1781, from an older house which stood on the site of 
the Quaker burying ground on the Harford turnpike, a 
short distance beyond the present city limits. The older 
Meeting was called "Patapsco," and the lot of ground it 
occupied was given by Joseph Taylor. This Meeting is 
■first mentioned in the old manuscripts in 1703 ; but it was 
then probably held at a private house. Mr. John Giles, 
the first of the family of that name who have since occu- 
pied a prominent position in this state, settled near the 
present site of Baltimore, about 1700, and at his house the 
Quakers held their Meetings.* His son Jacob Giles 
erected a large brick dwelling about three miles from 
Havre de Grace, which is still standing, and in its octagon 
hall the Friends of Harford County held their Meetings 
for many years. No vestige of the building known as 
Patapsco Meeting now remains, but the ground is still 
used as a cemetery by both of the sections into which 
the Society is now divided. Aged persons recollect the 

* Griffith's Annals of Baltimore. 



26 

earliest Yearly Meetings,, in tliis city, when the throngs 
attending were so great that a large tent was erected for 
their accommodation, on the then green lots south of the 
present site of the Second Presbyterian Church at the 
corner of East Baltimore and Lloyd Streets. 

The location of many of the oldest meeting houses is 
still known, the house at West River has long since dis- 
appeared, but the ground is still used as a public ceme- 
tery, and is now called the "Quaker Meeting lot." It is 
on the road leading from Galesville to Owensville, one 
mile from the river ; and the venerable trees that stand 
within its precincts keep faithful watch over the resting 
places of many of the first Friends of Maryland, whose 
rigid simplicity permitted no monumental stone to tell 
who sleeps beneath their shadows. 

The original meeting house at Easton, or Treadhaven as 
it was formerly called^ has been replaced by a more modern 
structure, which however occupies the same spot, once 
called Edmondson's Point. From the frequent reference 
in the Records relative to repairs to the old house, it is 
probable that it was a very poorly built structure, though 
doubtless it taxed the finances of the Society at that early 
period to erect it.* 

*The Rev. Ethan Allen has kindly furnished the following abstract of the 
proceedings of the Governor and Council of Maryland on the 24th May, 1698. 
(See "Council Proceedings," Liber H. D. No. 2.) 

"In obedience to an order of his Excellency, the Governor and Council, 
dated the 10th of August, 1697, commanding the several Sheriffs of this Pro- 
vince to return a list of what Romish Priests and Lay Brothers are resident in 
their respective Counties, and what Churches, Chapels or places of worship 
they have, — what manner of buildings they are, and in what places situate, — 
and return also a like account about the Quakers and other dissenters from 
the Church of England, and of their places of worship, &c." 

The Sheriff of Anne Arundel County returns, "the Quakers have one timber- 
work meeting house built at West River ujion land formerly owned by Mr. 
Francis Hooker, by them purchased to the quantity of two acres, where thev 



27 

Thomas Chalkly an eminent minister of tlie Society, in 
his curious and interesting journal, under date of 1706, 
says "^Aquila Paca, High Sheriff of the County (mean- 
keep their Yearly Meetings, — which is at Whitsuntide: — Also a Quarterly 
Meeting at the house of Samuel Chew : — Also a Monthly Meeting in Herring 
Creek meeting house, standing on land purchased of Samuel Chew :-^Also a 
Weekly Meeting at the same house : — Also Monthly and Weekly Meetings at 
the house of Wm. Richardson, Senior, West River: — Also a Weekly Meeting 
at the house of Ann Lumbolt, near the head of South River : — Also a Monthly 
Meeting at the house of John Belt. So far as I have the account from Mr. 
Richardson, I can understand of no preachers they have in this County but 
Mr. Wm. Richardson and Samuel Galloway's wife." 

The Sheriff of Baltimore County returns, ' ' that there is neither teacher or 
place of worship of Roman Catholics or Quakers." 

The Sheriff of Calvert County returns that "the Quakers have one very old 
meeting house near Leonard's Creek, and one place of meeting in the dwelling 
house of George Royston, at the Cliffs." 

The Sheriff of Prince George County returns that there is "no Quaker 
meeting house." 

The Sheriff of Charles County returns that there "are two Quakers, but 
none of their meeting houses." 

The Sheriff of St. Mary's County returns, "as to Quakers and Dissenters 
none in the County." 

The Sheriff of Somerset County returns "no Quakers." 

The Sheriff of Dorchester County makes a similar return . 

The Sheriff of Talbot County returns, " as to the Quaker's places of worship, 
they have a small meeting house at Ralph Fishbourne's and another at Howell 
Powell; another at between King's Creek and Tuckahoe, These are clap- 
board houses about twenty feet long. Another framed house at the head of 
Treadhaven Creek, about fifty feet long." 

The Sheriff of Kent County returns that "the Quaker place of worship is 
upon a branch of a Creek running out of Chester River, called Island Creek. 
The house is about thirty feet long and twenty feet wide, with a partition after 
the manner of a tobacco house, near which is a piece of ground paled in, 
where they bury their dead, about fifty feet square." 

From Cecil County no return appears to have been made. 

At the Yearly Meeting at Treadhaven Creek, the 5th day of the 8th month, 
1697, (see MSS. Records of Maryland Friends,) enquiry was made "into the 
estate and welfare of every Weekly Meeting belonging to this Yearly Meeting, 
viz ; South River, West River, Herring Creek, Clifts, Patuxent, Ceecill, Chester, 



n 



\»v/i^oi\co;s 



30 014 369 358 2 i 

The Maryland Yearly Meeting at one period embraced 
the State of Ohio within its church jurisdiction, — but in 
1812, their members had so increased that a new Yearly 
Meeting was established, to include all west of the Alle- 
ganies. At a later period, the Yearly Meeting of Indiana 
was set up ; and still more recently, still pushing west- 
ward, other meetings have extended across the Missis- 
sippi Kiver ; and as civilization marches towards the 
great West, the Quakers accompanying its footsteps, 
appear to be belting the continent with their meetings ; 
each new one in succession springing out from the next 
older ; and finding their common mother in " the General 
Meeting for all the Friends in the Province of Maryland,'* 
established by George Fox in 1672, as an original and 
independent organization. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRE 




014 369 358 2 



HoUinger 

pH8.5 

Mill Run F3-195= 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




Hollinger 

pH8.5 

Mill Run F3-1955 



